^^ Agreed. It's not like the Celtics BARELY beat the Lakers in '08. They slapped em around pretty much. Bynum woulda made maybe a little difference, but I doubt he woulda turned the series around.

This is true

However Kobe's MVP is pretty illegitimate.

He was the best player in the series.

Pau Gasol was the best player. However Pau Gasol goes the Lakers go.

Gasol>Kobe

As a Celtics fan, I would say that Gasol was the MVP. Whether they won or lost depended on his play far more, throughout the entire series.
The Celtics have shown that they can manage Kobe, and even if he goes off they can still win. Gasol was the real problem, and how they managed him determined the outcome of games.
That's why I'd say he was easily the MVP of the Lakers. It's not even a matter of any bias or hate either, because I despise Gasol far more than I hate Kobe.
Kobe just got it because he's Kobe, I think, and the NBA would also like him to move closer to Jordan in MVP awards.

Where would the Lakers have been without Kobe's 30 ppg? While the Lakers wouldnt have won without Gasol, Kobe was the driving force behind everything.

I think they should take a team for what it is, and award the x-factor though. If what you're saying is the case, the best player on the team should almost always win by default, even if they're managed well by the opposing team or even deliver below expectations.

I get what you're saying, I just feel Gasol would be my choice. I suppose it also can come down to the pointless "define MVP" debate

Pau was consistent and efficient, but even in the losses in this series, it was Kobe that kept the Lakers in those games.

Indeed he is those things, but lets not downplay his contributions to the lakers. Before gasol got to the lakers post shaq the lakers didnt make the playoffs one year, and were bounced in round 1 the very next. Since gasol has become a laker they have made the finals three times in a row, and won 2 championships. I don't think thats a coincidence, and there is a reason teams around the league were screaming when that lopsided trade went through. Hes one of the best big men in the league.

I'm a Lakers fan, I know how important he is to the Lakers. You're preaching to the choir.

Well of course he's a better player and more valuable to the Lakers on the whole. I'm just judging it by the series and how important each player was to the overall strategy of the matchup.
You can say that Kobe was more valuable, because of what he always means to that team, but Kobe is and has been the best player on the team so that's inherent. If it's approached that way he's MVP before the series even tips off.

yes that was my point.

Fuck

Man, Kobe acts like Michael Jordan every chance he gets. It's embarressing.

i no right

seriously, winning championships and MVPs 'n shit

Kobe wasnt even the 2nd best player on his team this series

neither was Jordan, the real hero was Luc Longley

lol

You really think Kobe was more valuable then Pau Gasol and Ron Artest in the finals? Really? The Lakers barely won and if Gasol and Artest played like shit, they would have lost in 6. Atleast admit this.

but if Artest and Gasol would have showed up for Game 5, Lakers would have won in 6.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MY PSYCHIATRIST FROM QUEENSBRIDGE

Do you think the Lakers would have won without Bryant?

Should we get an off-season thread going?

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/liv...swlogo_500.jpg

Why would their secondary logo have an SF?

I don't know how I feel about that. I understand they want to encompass SF as part of the Bay Area but they play in Oakland. I dunno.

Oakland Warriors
Oakland/San Francisco Warriors
"Bay Area" Warriors
Golden State Warriors
California Including The Los Angeles Area Warriors
West Side Warriors
American Warriors
North American Warriors
Northern Hemisphere Warriors
Earth Warriors
Milky Way Galaxy Warriors

Where does it end?

San Francisco Warriors of Oakland

Looks like they should be the Golden Gate Warriors

would you people stop undermining my off season thread?

LAAAAAAAAKE SHOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW